Updated on: March 27, 2025 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
Yes, Indians can drive in France with their Indian Driving License (DL) with or without a valid International Driving Permit (IDP). The IDP should always be accompanied by the Indian DL. If these documents are only in English or any other language, an official French translation is mandatory.
However, the the right to drive in France is also dependent on your type of French visa or resident permit.
Drive safely. Respect the rules. Enjoy your drive in France.
Table of Contents
Student Visa
You can drive a a car in France during the entire duration of the studies. For example, if you are enrolled in a bachelors degree of 3 years, you can continue driving during the entire course duration.
But, the following requirements must be satisfied,
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have a valid French student visa or residence permit.
- The Indian Driving License and the International Driving Permit (IDP) must be valid and not expired.
- It should be written in French (IDP usually has a French translation in it) or be accompanied by an official French translation.
- It should have all the information about any medical prescriptions (if any).
- It should not be sanctioned anywhere in France, by a cancellation or invalidation of your right to drive. Please, note that the French Driving License points system is applicable for foreigners too.
If you want to continue driving after the graduation, you should obtain a French Driving License. For example, a Permis B for driving a car.
Note: It is not recommended to continue driving on APS because it’s not a student resident permit.
Short Stay Visa (upto 90 days)
If you have come to France for a short duration, you can drive with your Indian Driving License and the International Driving Permit (IDP). For example: Tourism, Holidays, Short Term work, Attending Conferences/Workshops, etc.
Conditions applicable,
- Your Indian Driving License can be used during the entire duration of the stay, up to 90 days.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have a valid French tourist or visitor or business visa.
- The Indian Driving License and the International Driving Permit (IDP) must be valid and not expired.
- It should be written in French (IDP usually has a French translation in it) or be accompanied by an official French translation.
- It should have all the information about any medical prescriptions (if any).
- It should not be sanctioned anywhere in France, by a cancellation or invalidation of your right to drive.
Long Stay Visa (more than 90 days)
If you have a long stay visa (for example – people with Visitor, Salaried Visa, Talent Passport, etc.), you can drive up to one year from the first date of entry in France.
- VLS Visa: The allowed duration of 1 year starts from the date of entry in France.
- VLS-T Visa: The allowed duration starts from the date of entry in France and ends with the visa validity date.
- VLS-TS Visa: The allowed duration of 1 year starts from the date of entry in France.
Note: Date of entry in France means the date mentioned on the immigration stamp in your Passport.
Conditions applicable,
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have a valid long-stay visa or a residence permit.
- The Indian Driving License and the International Driving Permit (IDP) must be valid and not expired.
- It should be written in French (IDP usually has a French translation in it) or be accompanied by an official French translation.
- It should have all the information about any medical prescriptions (if any).
- It should not be sanctioned anywhere in France, by a cancellation or invalidation of your right to drive.
If you want to continue driving after this period of 1 year, you should obtain a French Driving License. For example, a Permis B for driving a car. The Indian Driving License or IDP cannot be exchanged for a French Permis B.
Sources & References
- All the info about driving rules in France and the fines to be paid incase of traffic violations can be found here.
- Conduire en France avec un permis étranger
- Finally, driving without a valid DL in France may lead upto 1 year imprisonment and a fine of 15000 €. So, Please don’t take any unnecessary risks.
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can an. Indian international student drive in France until his studies have finished with IDL which is valid for only one year ??? As of my case I am doing my second yr master but when got the visa they only provide 1yr validity of IDL because as the visa was only one yr valid upon my passport. now can I extend the IDL with my titre sejour or what should I do
Hello Maneesh,
The above article (Student chapter) answers all your questions. I don’t see any difference in your case and I came to France as a student too.
FYI, In my article:
IDL means Indian Driving License.
IDP means International Driving Permit, issued based on IDL.
Cheers,
Prasanth